Bodies of schoolgirl, 11, lover, 24, found at Galera

An 11-year-old schoolgirl, who was supposed to begin her secondary education at the Sangre Grande Junior Secondary school next Monday, allegedly committed suicide with her 24-year-old boyfriend over the weekend. According to reports, the bodies of Stephanie Boodram, of Little Coora Road, Cumuto, and gardener Jairam Baldeo, 24, of Cunaripo, were found by a coconut vendor in a forested area at Galera Road, Toco around 9.40 am yesterday. A report was made to the Toco Police and police officers, PCs Sudanee, Glenn, Elder and Callendar went to the scene where they viewed the bodies. The officers were later joined by CID officers headed by Insp Edmund Thomas, acting Cpl Dillon, WPC Pamela Persad and police photographer Charles.
   
Police found a bottle with a liquid substance and a knife next to the bodies, which at the time of discovery were lying one on top of the other. Relatives of both Boodram and Baldeo said the two left their respective homes since Saturday. The Boodram family lodged a missing persons report to the Barataria Police Station. In the report the family stated Stephanie, who would have turned 12 on Wednesday, had gone to purchase cakes at a nearby parlour on Saturday, but never returned. Hemrajee Ramrattan, a relative of Baldeo, said he was last seen by a taxi driver, who, when questioned by the relatives, revealed that Baldeo had hired his taxi to take him to San Juan, where he took up a girl, saying it was his sister.  He then asked the taxi driver to take him to Toco, where his aunt was holding prayers. The driver took him to Galera Road, Toco and Boodram and Baldeo were dropped off at the lighthouse. The driver asked if he should return, but Baldeo also requested that he be taken to a lower part of Galera Road.

Boodram’s relatives said they became suspicious and worried when she went missing, so they decied to carry out their own search on Sunday. They were just about to resume the search yesterday when police called, saying they had found two bodies. The bodies were identified by both parents. Boodram was wearing a red top and blue jeans, while Baldeo was dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. When the bodies were found, they were lying on a black jacket which Baldeo was wearing. Police also discovered a wedding ring box next to the bodies. On Boodram’s finger there was a new ring, which Baldeo’s relative said he might have bought and placed on Boodram’s finger before he committed the act. Reports also disclosed that Baldeo “limed” with his brothers Roopsham and Sundar on Friday at an Indian wedding, where they spoke to him for the last time.

His friend Ruben Samaroo, with whom Baldeo spent the rest of Friday night, said Baldeo told him he would go to the wedding on Sunday only if he did not get through with a telephone call. He left early on Saturday morning after making the call and told him he would not be coming back, and he would not see him again. The bodies were removed to the Sangre Grande mortuary, from where they will be taken to the Forensic Science Centre for an autopsy report.  

Toco hit by two drownings

By Samuel Mcknight

THIS weekend proved to be one of the worst for the village of Toco. Two friends, Sooklal Cato Singh and Garvin Morris, drowned on Sunday evening while swimming at the Toco Beach at Guyma Village, Toco. According to reports, Singh, 52, of Garden Village in Arouca, was swimming in water ten feet deep at the 7.22 1/4 mile mark at Toco Main Road, Guyma Village, when he got into difficulties. His friend Garvin Morris, 23, dived into the water and attempted to rescue him, but he also found himself in difficulties. Both men submerged and disappeared.

Singh’s body washed ashore yesterday  at 7.30 am, while Morris resurfaced at 8.15, both at the 21 1/4 mile mark on the Toco Main Road. Both men were part of a group that had gone to lime on the beach earlier that day, when Singh decided to take a “last swim” before leaving. DMO Dr Shiva visited the scenes of the four deaths — the two drownings and two suicide victims — and ordered the bodies removed to the Forensic Science Centre. Cpl Wright is investigating the deaths.

TSTT employee killed in car crash

A TSTT employee was killed on Sunday night while sitting in the back seat of a car which was fleeing from another car. According to reports, Keitha Cruickshand, 22, of Orchard Drive, Edinburgh Gardens, Chaguanas, an employee of the Chaguanas TSTT branch, died instantly when the car she was travelling in crashed into a wall outside a Manzanilla resort. The car was driven by Linton Mario Garcia, 21, of Wilkinson Boulevard, Orange Gardens. 

He is currently warded in a serious condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. According to reports, the car driven by Garcia proceeding east to Sangre Grande was seen being pursued by an unnamed person in another car when it crashed. The car was  owned by Richard Dempster, brother of soca singer, Sanelle Dempster. In an unrelated accident, around 11.05 pm Fitzroy Lewis died shortly after the car he was driving crashed when it skidded on the road made wet by earlier showers. His address up to press time was unknown. Manzanilla police are investigating.